Hooper, Joseph. Oratio salutatoria et oratio valedictoria, ca. 1763. HUC 6765.82, Harvard University Archives.

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Undated and unattributed handwritten Latin salutatory and valedictory orations composed for the Harvard College Commencement. A modern note with the materials suggests Nathaniel Sparhawk (Harvard AB 1765) as the author, but the author was more likely Joseph Hooper (Harvard AB 1763), who delivered the orations for the 1763 Harvard Commencement. While the documents are undated, textual clues include mention of the command of George III in recent war against France and Spain, suggesting the speech was written soon after the Treaty of Paris which was signed in February 1763 to end the Seven Years' War. The speech also celebrates Harvard Tutor William Kneeland, who resigned from his position in July 1763, and mentions the illness of Professor Edward Wigglesworth (who died before the 1765 Commencement). The text also mentions Professor John Winthrop and Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard.

Biographical Notes

Joseph Hooper (1743-1812), a paper manufacturer, was born on May 29, 1743 in Marblehead, Mass. He received an AB from Harvard in 1763 and an AM in 1766. Hooper was a prosperous merchant in Marblehead until his support of the British during the Revolutionary War forced him to flee to England in 1775. In 1783, he established a paper mill in Bungay, England. Hooper died in August 1812.

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Gift of H.V. Bail 1936

HUC 6765.82 5

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Decet deinceps Professoreres hujus academiae dignissime, summa observantia salutare; sed Decus insigne deest reverendissimus & valde aestimandus Dominus Wigglesworth, morbo laboravit quem Patientia digna Pietate christiana passus est, Si Laudes ei dignas audiret, nobili modestia vitaret, Laudes quibus Orbs tota Terrarum resonat, illo absente, omittam, sed Praeces Deo immortali, Sapientiae fonti inexhausto fundemus, ut illum salvum & incolumem Academ~ &c

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Oratio Salutatoria

Tametsi, auditores, nihil sit mihi jucundius, aspectu vestro, tantaque Hominum literatorum Frequentia; hoc tamen dicendi munus, quo Ego, vice classis, perfuncturus sum; Tenuitatis Ingenii me conscius, piget prope modum suscepisse.

Cogitanti mihi, multa, quae huic meo muneri conveniant, argumenta occurrunt, qua potius tamen preterienda quam juveniliter tractanda puto; - Veruntamen, ni fallor, multos video, qui Benevolentiae argumenta expectantes, mihi aspectu benigno, quam bene velint, haud obscure significant - Quare vestra Humanitatê fretus, Vobis omnibus, auditores docti ac amandi, hunc festum academiae Diem gratulari ausus sum; - vobisque gratulor Fratres, hodiernis honoribus donandi, hanc tantam virorum literatissimorum Frequentiam, qui Praesentiâ sua Honorem Diei adferunt.

Mihi etiam gratulari sinite, me hoc munus honorabile perfuncturum esse, in Coetu Hominum, quorum in Prudentia, non Decus tantum & Ornamentum sed Felictas Provinciae pendet; quorum sub auspiciis, academia nostra caput celsum, Sperae instar, in Coelum evexit; quorum Diligentia ac Laboribus assiduis haec illustris academia, non tam titulo, quam re verè illustris fiat, & non solum aliis /in

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in americâ, Palmam praeripiat, sed etiam cum Deus tandem Orbi Christiano optabilem, stabilemque Pacem concessit, ad celeberrimarum ubique academiarum Fastigia assurgere possit

Antehac, Auditores, inter Belli Vastationes convenimus; nuper Hostes perfidi, insontes & inermes agricolas cum conjugibus parvulisque occupabant, acerbissimisque cruciatibus aut captivitati haud morti praeferendae assignabant; Nuper Fines nostri Terroribus Belli ingemiscebant, & horrida Barbaries, horrid{a}que saevitia se undique circumjecerunt; sed quam mutata Series Rerum! quam grata vicissitudo! Mars atrox Ensem diu sanguine humano madentem, jam vaginâ recondidit & Pax alma apparuit Beneficia undique spargens; Commercium Gentibus olim Brittaniae Hostibus, auctum atque ratum est Resque publicae in Statum pristinum, atque pacatum, restituuntur; Pacati sunt Galli! Pacati sunt Hispani! omniaque haec fausta sub Imperio Georgii Tertii, in Bello ac Pace, Martis aut Minervae arenâ Regis celeberrimi, Regis omnibus Virtutibus quae unquam Coronam magnae Britanniae imperialem condecorarunt, ornatissimi! O felices Angli sub Tutamine Regis clementissimi vitam degentes, qui summam sibi reputavit Laudem nostram ambire Felicitatem & de salute publica sedulo agere, o vivat diuque /vivat

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vivat amore Populi securus; nec unquam desit qui Imperium Britanniae Georgii virtutibus regat; regia nata Soboles, haec voventibus Spes firmas attulit; meritas Deo grates referamus qui tantum hoc Beneficium nobis cumulavit, Huic ab inuente Aetate Deus invigilet & ad Studia virtutes inerranti sapientae manu ducat & cum Providentiâ sua, (sed longe absit) Patrem regium ad Aethera recuperaverit; Filius patriis Virtutibus surgat & Delicium humani Generis regnet.

Sed his amplius adderre nec Tempus nec Patientia vestra auditores patiuntur qua abuti non decrevi.

Iam vero auditoribus omnibus & singulis pro honore vestrae hodiernae conventionis maximas habemus Grates & ut dedecet Primo Te precellentissime Dom Dom Barnard salutat Oratio - Te Vir illustrissime presentem sibi gratulantur alma mater, Totus hic amplissimus conventus et unusquisque totius Patriae bene-meritus, Vultum tuum, cujus operâ & labore per multis fruitur Bonis Provincia, laeti conspicimus; Teque pro praestantissimis naturae Dotibus, quas multum expolivisti Studiis Hominum Notitia caeterisque Virtutibus celebramus; ast de amore tuo erga academiam sicut & Provinciam, praestat omnino tacere quam pauca dicere; tibi annos plusquam nestoreos ardenter precamur; Vir precellentissime, viveto & salveto

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